Retrospective analysis of patients of post-operative endophthalmitis following cataract surgery operated in the same centre over a period of 5 years from 2008-2012. Main outcome measures 1- Time of presentation, 2- Identification of Causative organism, 3- Treatment given, 4- Visual outcome.

Results:

From 2008-2012,total of 1,44,908 patients underwent cataract surgery of which 87 patients(0.06%) developed endophthalmitis. 18.4% of them presented within 72 hours, 47.1% presented within 2 weeks, rest after 2weeks. 21.8% patients were culture positive, of which 37% were staphylococcal species. Total of 54% patients were treated with intra-vitreal antimicrobial therapy alone, rest 54% needed additional vitectomy procedures. 50.6% patients had final visual outcome of better or equal to 6/18. 24.1% patients had vision 6/18 to 3/60, 25.3% had worse than 3/60.

Conclusions:

Despite high volume surgery, the endophthalmitis rate (0.06%) is much less than the previous studies. Nearly 1/5th (21.8%) patients were culture positive, probably due to inadequate specimen obtained during primary procedure. Proper and timely intervention with intra-vitreal anti-microbial with or without vitrectomy procedures could salvage vision of more than half patients (50.6%) to better than 6/18.